Marjory Warren
M 1pm-8pm; Tu-Th 11pm-8pm; F 11pm-7pm; Sa 11pm-5pm
I was saddened when I learned that Marjory Warren closed on 9th Street in 2014, but was absolutely thrilled to discover that the boutique had returned to its original home on the Upper East Side. The store began here when Marjory “Marj” Warren’s craft studio became a clothing boutique. She held special quilting classes where she would create handcrafted appliques that were very popular among her students and, soon, their friends in the neighborhood. For thirty years, her shop remained on Madison Avenue.
Chris Warren, who was Marjory’s daughter-in-law at the time, began helping out in the store before the move to the East Village. They became partners while opening a store together in California. After relocating back to NY, Chris took over the store when Marjory went into retirement. “I talk to her every day,” Chris said matter-of-factly, as she continues to run the business on her own now. Though Marjory occasionally stops by, she is “enjoying her retirement,” Chris said. Her oldest customers, however, have never forgotten her and still always ask Chris to “Say hi to Marj.”
When Chris took charge, she removed a bit of the “matronly edge” from the store hoping to make it more accessible to a wider age range. She loved seeing the frequent scene on 9th Street of young women in their twenties swapping fashion tips with octogenarians. Back on the Upper East Side, Chris is curating a multigenerational cliental. She explained her vision to me, saying, “This store is #ForAllWomen, that is my motto!” Regular customers are coming back in and new ones are thrilled to discover this fun store.
Much of her new client base is thanks to the nearby hospital. Both medical professionals and families of patients have discovered her on 96th. The dazzling displays of garments and accessories in the window, arranged by Chris, often attract passersby. With regards to the way the store is set up, Chris admitted, “I’m very artistic – I love the creative part of it.” I can tell even without seeing the two women in the same room, that Marjory Warren must be proud of her disciple.